W.Va. Bill Would Ban Google Glass While Driving

A West Virginia state legislator has introduced a bill that would ban the use of head-mounted gadgets while driving - a measure that was inspired by Google Glass.

A West Virginia state legislator has introduced a bill that would ban the use of head-mounted gadgets while driving - a measure that was inspired by Google Glass.

Delegate Gary G. Howell, a Republican, introduced a bill on Friday that would establish "the offense of operating a motor vehicle using a wearable computer with a head-mounted display."

The bill, H.B. 3057, updates an existing law regarding texting and talking while driving to also ban: "Using a wearable computer with head mounted display."

"'Wearable computer with a head mounted display' means a computing device which is worn on the head and projects visual information into the field of vision of the wearer," according to the bill text.

If the bill passes, the ban would go into effect on July 1, 2013.

First offenses would result in a $100 fine, second offenses would cost the driver $200, while third and subsequent violations would result in $300 fines. The bill does not give police permission to seize gadgets like Google Glass.

The bill does not specifically mention Google Glass, but in a note to CNET's Chris Matyszczyk, Howell told him that a recent article on Google Glass had prompted the bill.

In an email to PCMag, Howell said the story made him realize that "there was a gap in our no texting and driving bill. Google Glass, and follow on products, would place into the field of view of a driver text that they could read or video. This would be a serious distraction to drivers."

"While going over the texting ban in the previous legislature we had many stories of collisions," Howell continued. "The youth in our society are those that are most likely to try new technology, and they are also our less skilled drivers. That is a bad combination and I hope through the bill to increase awareness that when driving, you should be concentrating on driving."

Howell responded to some who had commented online that Glass is just like a heads-up display for a fighter jet or car. "I agree the concept is the same, but the information displayed [is] not," he wrote. "In the fighter or car HUD, then information displayed is related to the safe operation of the vehicle. Also, fighter pilots already have a problem with information overload with there instrumentation and they have received millions of dollars worth for training to deal with it. I doubt a fighter pilot will ever watch a video or receive text from his girlfriend on his HUD."

"Personally I would like try the Google Glass, but if I do I will not drive my car while wearing it," Howell concluded.

In a statement, Google said it is "putting a lot of thought into the design of Glass because new technologies always raise new issues. We actually believe there is tremendous potential to improve safety on our roads and reduce accidents. As always, feedback is welcome."

In a video (below) that demonstrates how wearing Google Glass might feel, it does not show Glass wearers actually driving a car (one person is a passenger), but it does show them flying a plane, skydiving, bicycling through New York City traffic, and skiing, among other things.

The Google Glass alert window is currently situated at the top-right of a user's field of vision, and Glass has a number of voice-activated features. But the gadget is still in the testing phase and has not rolled out to a large number of users. Those who do have it are developers and a few chosen individuals willing to shell out $1,500 for the gadget.

Earlier this month, a Seattle bar imposed a ban on Google Glass, but the bar's owner admitted that it was more of a publicity stunt that a true opposition to Google's new tech.

Chloe Albanesius has been with PCMag.com since April 2007, most recently as Executive Editor for News and Features. Prior to that, she worked for a year covering financial IT on Wall Street for Incisive Media. From 2002 to 2005, Chloe covered technology policy for The National Journal's Technology Daily in Washington, DC. She has held internships at NBC's Meet the Press, washingtonpost.com, the Tate Gallery press office in London, Roll Call, and Congressional Quarterly. She graduated with a bachelor's degree in journalism from American University...
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